​Celebrating 11 Days for Peace in Ashland
Ashland Culture of Peace Commission (ACPC) is celebrating one year of exploring a new culture that could bring more peace into our community and the world. Individuals come together to take on hard questions and reveal solutions. Our focus is on how we can change from a culture that promotes separation, fear and violence into one of compassion and peace.

 Immediately after the attack on September 11, 2001, Trish McCarty, founder of StarShine Academy (K-12 charter school in Phoenix, Arizona) called upon students and staff to commemorate 11 Days of Peace. That began an annual memorial celebration from 9/11 up to the International Day of Peace, September 21st.  Starshine, a mini United Nations campus with students from all over the world, paved the way for other groups to expand the 11 Days of Peace.

ACPC presents the 11 Days for Peace in Ashland and suggests a heart/mind focus for each of the eleven days, including Forgiveness, Inclusivity, Accountability, Compassion, Respect, Gratitude, Embracing Change, Love, Empathy, and Peace.  Ashlanders will have the opportunity to explore what “peace” means personally and collectively.

11 Days for Peace is an opportunity for ACPC to share their vision for a community that works for everyone. When one can see what isn’t working without judgment, there is an eye toward solutions. Every individual, business, organization and agency is invited to be a pathway to peace.

The question, “How do we shift from the culture we are in to one of peace?” has led through awareness of what is not peace to imaginings of how a peaceful society might look, all with the realization that we may not know what true peace is and that we are discovering together.

An answer on how to achieve peace comes from our indigenous roots.  Marcine Quenzer, author of Spirit Winds of Peace, Epoch of the Peace Maker, brings to life the story of the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy, which formed the basis for our Declaration of Independence. Five warring nations came together in peace that reigned for a thousand years in North America, bringing us a model for peacemaking to use today.

11 Days for Peace launched with ceremonies in Lithia Park led by Marcine Quenzer, at the Regional Peace Pole in Medford’s Cellular Park, and with lighting the Peace Flame. Activities continued with a concert and labyrinth experience at United Methodist Church.

A daily vigil is being held from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on the Plaza throughout the 11 Days for Peace where challenges to peace are examined. With the theme "Making peace inclusive for all”, ACPC and guest speakers will address specific social issues.  ACPC is also hosting a daily talking circle from 11 am to noon at the office exploring the quality recognized each day that allows peaceful solutions to emerge.

What we create now is what our grandchildren and the generations that follow will be living with. Listening to youth and hearing their concerns about the future led to further inquiry. “How can we provide an opportunity for our youth to express their visions, ideas and dreams?”

 The ACPC Education team responded with an invitation for high school students to write an essay, middle school students to submit poetry, and elementary students to create a poster. Specific prompts and details for each category are found on our website. All youth living in or being educated in Ashland are welcome to participate with submissions due 9/16. A book will be published with the entries so Ashland can hear the voices of the future.

On September 21st, we celebrate International Day of Peace and our one year anniversary in Ashland. Events will be held at Wesley Hall, United Methodist Church and include field trips for elementary students from 10 am - 2 pm and an evening celebration from 5 - 8 pm featuring Matthew Fox (Creation Spirituality) and Cecilia St. King (Inner Peace Troubadour).

We invite you to explore, experience, share and participate in creating a Culture of Peace within – and in our beloved city.
​
By Mayana Kingery,  ACPC Education Team
Mayana is a Heartist with Peace Production, www.Peace Production.org
 
For the full schedule of activities for the 11 Days of Peace and International Day of Peace, go to www.ashlandcpc.org.   insert usual info about ACPC here, address, etc., Bert
 
For more information on those referenced in this article:  www.StarShineAcademy.org; www.MarcineQuenzer.com; www.CeciliaStKing.com; www.MatthewFox.org
 

​Dear Heartists:
Peace Production is thrilled to be a part of so many wonderful events with Heartists all over Southern Oregon who are educating humanity and inspiring a health full intention!  
Here’s the Peace we are Producing ~
Stories We Tell & Songs We Sing benefit event for Grandmother Agnes Baker-Pilgrim this Sunday in Grants Pass sponsored by the Grants Pass Center for Spiritual Living.

​Your presence, standing with our Indigenous People such as are gathered in Standing Rock, North Dakota, will honor
Grandma Aggie. We have a 5 hour event planned . . .
Yes, a full afternoon! Community Building is worth the time!
We STAND united! Bring your heart in Unity!

• Listen to the story of the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy, the governing structure that the U.S. Founding Fathers chose as a model for the Constitution of the United States of America. In these moments when war and despair are felt and seen - we go to the heart of the root of our country to hear how 5 Native Nations came together to live in Peace, the model for life within our culture. Marcine Quenzer, author, artist, medicine woman, and friend brings Spirit Winds of Peace ~ Epoch of the Peace Makers - a story we all need hear with our hearts.
• Grandma Aggie will share her Wisdom, bless us with her presence, and a book signing. Buy her books whether in person or at Aquarius Books and Gifts - she speaks for those without a voice - the Voice for the Voiceless with ageless wisdom. 
• DINNER!!! A delicious meal will be prepared and served on real plates. Omnivores and Vegetarians will be delighted with the food choices and tastes! 
• Closing the event will be Cecilia St. King ~ Inner Peace Troubadour in concert! We are so blessed to have this International Star who is endorsed by the United Nations and the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in partnership with the National Peace Academy, AND recommended by Pete Seeger! Pete said everyone should hear Cecilia's original and heart moving music.
• Get your TICKETS or if you can't attend  DONATE anyway. :)

Healthy Food Festival was a raving success! Even now, I'm still decompressing from last Saturday and loving the inspiration pouring through for next year. We are still offering a contest Youth Recipe/Art Contest. Entries due October 1, 2016.
 
It will sure take a bigger team to produce next year...
 
Who's in for the 3rd Annual Healthy Food Festival?
 
ASHLAND CULTURE OF PEACE (ACPC) activities we've been involved in:

• 11 Days for Peace began on 9/11 celebrating what is rising, recognizing what is falling, letting go, moving on, building new, and reflecting again.  Click here to read the article Mayana wrote that was published in the Ashland Tidings on Sept. 12th.
• ACPC ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY Celebration on International Day of Peace is Wednesday, the 21st. Full details available at the link. 
• Marcine Quenzer (one of my mentors in ceremony) came to tell the story of Spirit Winds of Peace, Epoch of the Peace Makers at the Ashland Public Library. She also led a ceremony in Lithia Park on the eve of 9/11.
• Youth Essay, Poetry, and Poster contest: The Education Committee offered a contest through Ashland Public Schools and to all K-12 students in Ashland. Several prompts were given in each of the three age levels. I've seen some of the posters and they are so precious, speaking loudly the dreams and visions our children have for peace.
• Student Field Trips:  On Wednesday, students will tour through a variety of centers and experience peace. 
• Cecilia St King, Inner Peace Troubadour and Matthew Fox are joining ACPC on the 21st for a free public event - with fundraising components to entice and excite you! We'll be there with a film created by Peace Production's team, including us, Spencer Barrett and McKenna Rutherford. 
• Marcine Quenzer will be there on Wednesday with her art display and book.

So come play! Bring your open heart and together we create a world that works for everyone.
Watch for details on what’s coming next:  Imagine This Dream October 8 – December 9, 2016


Andras & Mayana ~ Heartists in Resonance